Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-09-24

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man; but, situated as Curtis was, it was
grievous burden to bear
To begin with, Nyleptha, though altogether
charming, was, it must be admitted, of a
rather jealous disposition, and was somewhat
apt to visit on her lovers head her indigna-
ton at the marks of what Alphonse would
have called the distinguished consideration"
with which her royal sister favored him
Then the enforced secrecy of his relations to
Nyleptha prevented Curtis from taking some
opportunity of putting stop, or trying to
put stop, 10 this false condition of affairs,
by telling Sorais, in q casual but confidential
way. that he was going to marry her sister.
A third sting in Sir Henry's honey was that
he knew that Good was honestly aud sincerely
attached to the ominous looking, but most
attractive, Lady Of the Night Indeed, poor
Bougwan was wasting himself to shadow
of his fat and jolly self about her, his face
getting so thin that his eyeglass would
scarcely stick in il; while she, with sort of
careless coquetry, just gave him encourage
ment enough TO keep him going, thinking, no
doubt, that he might be useful as a stalking
horse. / tried to give him hint, in as deli
cate a way as could, but he flew into huff
and would not listen to me; so determined
to let i'll alone, for fear OF making it worse
Poor Goodl he really was very ludicrous in
his distress, and went in for all sorts Of alb
surdities, under the belief that he was ad-
vancing his suit. One of them was the
writing-with the assistance of one of the
grave and reverend seigniors who instructed
us, and who, whatever may have been the
measure of his erudition, did not understand
how to scan line--of most interminable
Zu-Vendi love song, of which the continually
recurring refrain was something about II
will kiss thee; oh yes, will kiss thee!" Now
among the Zu-Vendi it is common and
most harmless thing for young men to sere-
made ladies at night, as l believe they do in
the southern countries of Europe, and sing
all sorts of nonsensical songs to them.
Awaiting himself Of this custom, Good be.
thought h.n that he would serenade Sorais,
whose private apartments, together with
those of her maidens, were exactly opposite
our own, on the farther side of narrow
court yard which divided one section of the
great palace from another Accordingly,
having armed himself with native either,
on which, being an adept with the light
guitar, he had easily learned to strum, he
proceeded at nlidnight-the fashionable hour
for this sort o. caterwauling-to make night
hideous with his amorous yells. | was fast
asleep when they began, but they soon woke
me up--for Good possesses a tremendous
voice and has no notion of time--and | ran
to my window place to see what was the
matter And there, standing in the full
moonlight in the court yard, | perceived
Good, adorned with an enormous ostrich
feather headdress and a flowing silken cloak,
which it is the right thing to wear upon these
occasions, and shouting out the abomina-
BILE song which lie and the old gentleman
had evolved, to jerky, jingling accompani-
ment. From the direction of the quarters of
the maids of honor came a succession of faint
sniggerings; but the apartments of Sorais
herself-whom l devoutly pited if she hap
pened to be there-were silent as the grave.
There was absolutely no end to that awful
song, with its eternal ~ will kiss thee" and
at last neither nor Sir Henry, whom / had
summoned to enjoy the sight could stand it
any longer; so, remembering the dear old
story, l put my head to the window opening
and shouted, "For Heavens sake, Good, don't
go on talking about it, but kiss her and let's
all go to sleepp That checked him off, and
we had no more serenading.
The whole thing formed a laughable in
cident in tragic business.
Well, the more Sir Henry held OFF the more
Sorais came on, as is not uncommon in such
cases, till at last things got very queer in
deed. Evidently she was, 10y some strange
perversity of mind, quite blinded to the true
state of the case; and /, for one, greatly
dreaded the moment of her awakening.
Sorais was dangerous woman to be mixed
up with, either with or without ones own
consent. At last the evil moment came, as
"a A. 4.
ing gone out hawking, Sir Henry and were
sitting quietly talking over the situation, es-
pecially with reference to Sorais, when a
court messenger arrived with written note,
which we with some difficulty deciphered.
and which was to the effect that "the Queen
Sorais commanded the attendance of the
Lord Incubu in her private apartments,
whittier he would be conducted by the
bearer"
ION my wordm groaned Sir Henry
"Can't you go instead old fellowa"
mot if l know it," I said with vigor Il
bad rather face wounded elephant With
sirot gun. Wash up your own dirty disses,
my boy. II you will be so fascinating YOU
must take the consequences. Amt you lust
in for it now. that's allg'
you remind me of when l was going to
~ AANcfSSo
TO console me-" he said, gloomily. what
right has this COMPOUNDED queen to command
my attendance, should like to knows
won't 60"
But you must; you are one of her officers
and bound to obey her, and she knows it.
and after all it will soon be OVER
That's just what they used to say" ho
said again. II only hope she won't put a
knife into me. l believe that she is quite
capable of it." And of he started very
faintheartedly, and no wonder
l sat and waited, and at the end Of about
iorty-flve minutes he returned, looking a good
deal worse than when he went
"Give me something to drink" he said
aloarsely.
got him cup of wine, and asked what
was the matter.
"What is the matter? Why, if ever there
was trouble there's trouble now You know